Electrical telephone apparatus.



N0. 757,609. PATENTED APR. 19, 1904. P. H. FISK. ELECTRICAL TELEPHONE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1903.

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PA H. PISK. ELECTRICAL TELEPHONE APPARATUS. LPILIGATIOE' FILED JUNE 13, 1903.

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A'TENTED APR. 19, 1904.

P. H. FISK. ELEGTRIGAL TELEPHONE APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE- 13, 1903.

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11/4 :flrrl 1 No. 757,609. I PATBNTED APR. 19, 1904.

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ELECTRICAL TELEPHONE APPARATUS.

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'PAT'EN'TED APR; 19; 190.4.

.11. FISK. ELECTRICAL TELEPHONE AIPARATUS;

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 13, 1903.

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Patented April 19, 1904.

UNi-TED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

PLINY HJFISK, CLAY, IQWA.

ELECTRICAL TELEPHONE APPARATUS..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,609 dated April 19, 1904.

Application filed June 13, 1903. Serial No. 161,316. (No model.) i

apparatus may be adapted, with slight addi tions, to party-lines connected with the central station.

In the improved apparatus herein described a code is employed consisting of combinations of long and short calls or series of rings on a gong. V

This invention is intended to prevent a call intended for one telephone being received by the other instruments on the same line, thus obviating the necessity for each subscriber listening to every call to note whether it is his call.

The apparatus employed for illustrating the embodiment of the invention consists of a selecting apparatus to be operated in connection with telephones so arranged and connected that an operator at any oneof a series of telephones connected by a single line can call any. desired telephone on the line independently of all other telephones on that line or any other line.

Another embodiment of the invention is a means whereby when an operator has in this means called another telephone he can look all other telephones on the line for a short time in order that he may not be overheard by any other of the telephones or whereby the conversation between himself and the telephone with which he is connected shall be private.

, Other novel features of the invention will appear in the annexed description and be specified in the claims following.

The mechanism by which the above results are accomplished consists, primarily, ina selecting mechanism connected with the transmitting mechanism at each station on the line and under the control of the operator and provided with suitable battery connections. I

' In the drawings illustrative of the invention, in which corresponding parts aredenoted by like designating characters, Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic view of-a plurality of telephone-transmitters, each having in outline the casing inclosing'its respective selecting mechanism and the necessarywirin batter and ground connections.

Fig. 2 is a sectional-view of the selecting mechanism and its inclosing casing. Fig. 3 is a detail side elevation of the blok which operates the look-out mechanism in connection with the production of the call. is an elevation of the parts shown in the central portionof Fig. 2, viewed from the bottom. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail of the l selecting-wheel shaft and portions of the commutator, illustrating the construction whereby the connection is made with the contact series on the margin of the selecting-wheel. Figzi=6 is a detail illustrating the construction 1 of the larger pneumatic retarding mechanism.

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of parts of the mech- 7 5 anism shown at theright of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail illustrating the mechanism whereby the selecting-Wheel isrotated. Figs. 9 and .10 represent-sectional views of the pneumatic'retardingpylinders. ,Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail of the mechanism for disconnecting the selected telephone from themain line. Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail of the actuating mechanism connected with the retarding device. -.Fig. 13 is an endelevation viewed from the-:leftof Fig.1 andin an inverted position;

- illustrating the construction of the mechanism for operating the selecting-wheel. Fig. lt is an enlarged side elevation of the selecting- Wheel and its operating-shaft, together with the contact-plates thereon. Fig. 15 is afplan view of the selecting-wheel and portions of'its connected parts. Fig. 16 is an internal view, partially diagrammatic, representing the mechanism within the call-boxer transmittercasing to illustrate the wiring. Fig. 17 is an end elevation, and Fig. 18 is a plan View of .the mechanism shown in the upper part of Fig. 16. Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic illustration of theparts within the casingcontaining I00 Fig. 4 65 the selecting mechanism, together with the parts contained in the ordinary call-box or transmitter-casing of a telephone and the battery and ground connections.

In Fig. 1 is shown a diagrammatic representation of the outlines of the mechanism com prising the invention sought to be covered in the present application, 25 representing the main line of the telephone-circuit, and 26 a plurality of telephone-transmitte rs of the usual construction, connected, as at 27, with the main line in the ordinary manner. Associated with each of the transmitters is an independent selecting mechanism, as shown in Fig. 2, inclosed within a casing 28 of suitable size, and as these casings and their contents are all precisely alike corresponding designating characters are employed for like parts in each. Each of these casings 28 will be provided with an electric call-bell (indicated at 228) of the usual construction and designed to signal the call, as hereinafter explained.

The casings 28 will be of any suitable size and supported in any suitable manner relative to the transmitters, or they may be connected therewith or arranged in the same casing with the transmitters, and each casing will be provided, preferably, with a double back, as illustratedin Figs. 4, 6, 7, and 13, whereby a cavity 30 is formed for the concealment of the wiring. -VVithin the casing 28 is a shaft 31, suitably mounted in bearings for rotation, as shown.

Extending from the back of the casing 28 is an insulated block 32, suitably supported, as by a bracket 33, and spaced from the shaft 31. Extending from the block 32 is a hanger 34, serving as a support for the other end of the shaft 31, as shown in Fig. 4, and preferably provided with an adjusting-screw 35, by which means the shaft can be maintained in its true position, as will be obvious.

Surrounding the shaft 31 is a cylinder of insulating material 36, and connected to this cylinder at intervals are contact-plates semicylindrical in form' and spaced apart with their adjacent ends separated by suitable gaps, as shown more clearly in Fig; '5, which illustrates these parts in cross-section and enlarged. The number of these contact-plates is five, and they are denoted, respectively, at 37, 38, 39, 40, and 41. Each of these contact-plates will be provided with a conducting-wire leading therefrom, and to provide for these wires channels 43 44 are formed longitudinally in the cylinder 36, as shown in Figs. 5 and 14, the wires being indicated as leading upwardly.-

Connected to the insulating-bar 32 are commutator plates or springs, one for each of the plates 37 to 41 and denoted, respectively, 45, 46, 47, 48, and 49, the contact-spring 45 normally contacting with the plate 37, the contact-spring 46 normally contacting with the plate 38, while the contact-spring 47 normally contacts *Wiiih the plate 39 and the contactspring 48 normally contactswith the plate 40, and the contact-spring 49 contacts with the plate 41. These various contacts are illustrated more fully in Fig. 19, which represents the parts disconnected or in a diagrammatic form.

The contact-springs 45 to 49 are connected with independent lead-wires to certain parts of the apparatus, whereby the desired results are produced, and this wiring is indicated in Fig. 19, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

Upon the upper end of the shaft 31 is secured the selecting-wheel 51, which wheel is formed of non-conducting materialsuch as rubber, vulcanite, or the likeand is provided with a ratchet-segment 52 upon one side, as shown.

' Embedded in the margin of the wheel 51 are two correlated series of contact-plates, the arrangement of the plates varying with each telephone, and it is by varying the relative arrangement of these series of plates that the various calls and combinations are accomplished, as will be hereinafter described. For the purpose of illustration a conventional arrangement of these plates is shown in Fig. 15.

Extending from the insulated post 32 are contact-spring plates 61 62, with their free ends in constant engagement with the opposite sides of the insulated selecting-wheel 51, as shown in Figs 15 and 19.

Extending from the wheel 51 is a stop-pin 63, acting against the free end 64 of a lever 65, pivotally supported in a standard 66 and maintained yieldably in position by a spring 67. The shaft 31 is held normally in yieldable position with its pin 63 against the lever 64 65 by 'a spring 68,.the tension of the spring being controlled by a winding-shaft 69 in the usual manner, the pressure of the pin 63 against'the lever 64 65 tending to hold the latter against an adjustingstop 247. The spring 68 will be stronger than the spring-67, so that it will hold the pin 63 in position against the lever 64 65 and hold the-latter normally in its withdrawn position, as will be obvious. By this 'simple means the selectingwheel will be held normally in the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 15, with the contactsprings 61 and 62 in inoperative position against the insulated portion of, the wheel.

The mechanism by which the selectingwheel is actuated consists in a shaft 7 O, mounted for rotation in bearings 71 72 and provided with lateral arms 73, connected at their free ends to a bar 74, the latter held normally in its upward position by a spring 75, the tension being controlled by a winding-shaft 76 in the ordinary manner.

Suitably mounted within the casing 28 are two electromagnets 77 78, above which levers 79 80 are pivotally supported, respectively, in

standards 81 82, the levers carrying armatures 83 84, adapted to be attracted by the magnets when energized, the armature-levers being held normally out of action by the springs 85 86, as shown. The free end of the armature-lever 79 is held, normally in contact with a contact-spring 211, while the free end of the lever 80 is similarly held in engagement with a contact-spring 212 and holding them out of contact, respectively, with contact-posts 213 214, as represented in diagrammatic view, Fig. 19. Movably connected to the armature-levers 79 80 are plates 87 88, extending over the bar 74, to which they are connected by pins 89 90, the bars 87 88 having slots through which the pins pass, as shown. By this means it will be obvious that when either of the magnets 77 7 8 is energized the armature-levers 79 80 will draw the bar 74' slot, as shown, so that the bar 74 has a cer-.

tain degree of play without affecting the bar 91. The lower end of the bar is pivotally connected, as at 95, to a bell-crank lever 96, one arm of the hell-crank lever terminating in a pawl 97, adapted to engage the ratchetteeth 52 on the selecting-wheel 51 when the bell-crank is operated, while the opposite member of the bell-crank is formed with a slot with it and continue the downward movement of thebell-crank lever, and thus rotate the selecting-wheel 51 the distance of one of its teeth. The lower end of the bar 91 is held from lateral motion bya guard-plate 310, extending from the bottom of the casing 28 and having a slot adapted to engage the end of the bar 91. The upper end of the bar 91 is guided and supported by the hanger 92, the. hanger likewise serving as a stop against which the bar 91 is normally main tained by aspriug 93, as indicated more clearly in Fig. 13. The lower end of the bar 91 passes through a slot 100 in the bent end of one arm 101 of a bellcrank lever pivoted at 102 in a bracket 103, the other arm 104 of the bell-crank lever extending into movable engagement at 105 with a bar 106, the latter extending downwardly and pivotally connected at 107 to an armaturelever 108, the latter pivotally supported in a released by the movement of the selectingwheel, as hereinafter explained.

- The armature-lever 108 is provided with a spring-pawl 117, adapted to engage the ratchetteeth 52 of the selecting-wheel to prevent return movement of the latter, the spring-pawl being thus operative while the armature-lever is in its inoperative position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 15, but which will be released from the selecting-wheel when the magnets 111 are energized/ I When the magnets 111 are energized, the bar 106 will be drawn downward, operating the bell-crank lever 101 104 and causing the slotted end 100 to depress the arm 91 and disengage the pawl 97 from the ratchet-teeth 52, it being understood that the pin 94 will be long enough, as illustrated in Fig. 13, to permit this depression without causing the bar 91 to strike the rod 74. Thus when the magnets 111 are energized the selecting-wheel will not be actuated by any movement of the rod 74. When the lever 64 is not engaged by the pin 63, the projecting point 116 rests against the elevated portion 115 of the lever 108. lever 108 be actuated while the parts are in If the i this position, the point 116 will engage the section and prevent the levers return to its normal position until the selecting-wheel has a series of stop-pins 120, extending from the face of the selecting-wheel 51, with the client of preventing the selecting wheel moving more than the distance of one ratchet-tooth a each movement of the bar 91.

The outer end of the shaft 31 is supported by a plate 34, extending from the insulated bar 32, and pivotally connected at 122130 this plate is a movable lever-arm 123, the free end of the lever-arm connected by a link 124 to a a block 137, placed below its free end.

piston operating in a cylinder 126, the latter suitably supported by a bracket from the casing-28. The piston 125 is provided with a valve 127, opening outwardly, so that when the lever 123 is moved outwardly it will be retarded in its action by the suction of the piston 125, but will move freely in the opposite direction, as the valve 127 will relieve the pressure, as will be obvious. 123 is held normally in its upward position by a spring 128, controlled by a winding-shaft 129, and likewise maintains the piston 125 in its outward position. The free end of the lever 123 when in its upward position engages a contact-spring 130 and causes it to engage a contact-post 131, as indicated more clearly in Fig. 19, the post thus serving as a rest against which the lever is normally held. An extended section 132 of the lever 123 reaches nearly to an outturned section 133 of the lever 79, so that when the latter is actuated the lever 123 will be driven downward and the piston 125 forced into the cylinder 126, as above noted. At the same time the contactspring 130 will be released and will possess sufficient resiliency to cause it to leave the post 131 and engage a similar post 134, spaced from the post 131, as indicated in Fig. 19.

Owing to the retarded return of the lever 123, caused by the sluggish return action of the piston 125, as above described, it will not strike the spring 130 between successive movements of the lever 79 if the movements 1 occur with considerable frequency; but after a few seconds if the lever 79 remains in normal position the lever 123 will again move the contact 130 away from the post 134 to its former position against the post 131. These varying contacts with the posts 131 and 134 play an important part in the selecting operation of the device, as will be hereinafter described.

A bent lever 135 is pivotally connected by one end to a standard 136, secured to the casing 28, and is held from lateral movement by The lever is held normally against a rest 138 by a spring139. To the free end of the lever 135 is pivotal] y mounted a second bent lever 140, one end of which, as at 141, is pawl-shaped and adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchetwheel 142, the latter mounted for rotation upon a shaft 144, suitably supported in a bracket 145, extending from the casing 28. The other end of the lever 140 lies between two projections 146 147, extending from the lever 135 and having a slight play between the projections. This-end of the lever 140 is also pivotally connected by a coupling-bar 148 to the rod 74 by a pivot 149. As a result when the rod 74 is actuated the end of the lever 140 is first drawn against the projection 146 and at the same time the pawl 141 is brought into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 142. Then the further The lever movement of the lever 140 will cause the rotation of the, ratchet-Wheel 142 the distance of one of its teeth.

A projection 132 extends from the free end of the lever, 123 and is provided with a pivotpin over which a slot in a rod 151 fits loosely, as shown, the rod extending upwardly and pivotally connected at 152 to a lever-arm 153, the latter pivoted in turn to a bracket 154. The lever 1 53 is provided with a pawl 155, adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchetwheel 142, as above mentioned. Thus when the lever 123 is driven forward the lever 153 will drop by gravity and cause its pawl 155 to engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 142, permitting the latter to rotate forward under the action of the crank-lever 140, as heretofore described, but preventing its return. When, however, the lever 123 resumes its normal position, it will lift the lever 153 and disengage it from the ratchet-wheel and permit a retrograde movement of the latter.

The ratchet-wheel 142 is mounted pivotally in suitable brackets, as heretofore described, and is provided upon its upper. art with a gear-wheel 156, with which a geared segment 157 upon the free end of an arm 158, pivoted intermediately in a bracket 159, attached to the arm 34, engages, the arm 158 extending, as shown, beyond the bracket 159 nearly to the opposite side of the casing 28. The arm 158 is held yieldably with its segment in its upper position by a retracting-spring 160, whose tension is regulated by a winding-shaft 161. A contact-spring 162 is held normally by the lever-arm 158 against a contact-post 163, which contact is broken by the flexibility of spring 162 when the lever 158 is actuated downwardly.

To the bottom of the shaft 144 is loosely mounted a contact-segment 164, which is insulated from the shaft 144 by a collar 165, of insulating material, which rests. against the bed-piece supporting the shaft 144, as shown in Figs. 7 and 11. A block 166, of insulating material, is arranged to form a portion of the margin of the segment 164, and a contactspring 167 is so mounted as to bear on the contact portion of the segment 164 just in advance of the block 166, and a second contactspring 168 is in constant contact with the segment 164 at a point near the shaft 144. Two posts 169 170 extend from the segment 164 and are spaced apart and adapted to engage an arm 171, extending from the shaft 144. When the shaft 144 has been rotated, carrying the The main-line current which reaches the telephone passes by a suitable conductor-wire to the spring 168 and by another Wire from the spring 167 to the ground or to the return-wire of the main circuit, and thus whenever spring 167 is resting upon the insulatingblock 166 the main current is interrupted and the telephone is for the time being dead. This result is produced by an extended series of quickly-successive impulses, each of which, regardless of their effect on the selectingwheel 51, serves to rotate ratchet-wheel 142 a sufficient distance to bring the spring-contact 167 upon the block 166. To accomplish this result, however, will require more impulses than would be called for in working out the most extensive call combination required on the line. g

i As will be hereinafter shown, provision is made to hold both the instrument and tele phone of both the transmittingstation and one in which a call has been given in the main circuit even when the above-described cutout at segment 164 has occurred. .This arrangement makes it possible for two subscribers who are in conversation over a partyline, one of Whom having called the other by using the proper combination of impulses and who desires to cut out all other telephones on the line for the sake of private conversation, to do so by sending a plurality of quicklysuccessive impulses over the line, which will rotate the ratchet-wheel 142 and segment 164 in each instrument until in the case of each the spring 167 shall have passed to the corresponding insulating-block 166 and all the instruments on the line except those at the transmitting and receiving station are locked. The return of the wheel 142 to its normal position, with the corresponding renewal of the contact of the spring 167 with the segment 164, is effected by the segment 157 of the lever 158, the teeth of which engage the gear wheel 156 and rotate the shaft 144 as thelever 158, acting under the force of the spring 160, moves backward to its normal position, as before described. The retrograde movement of the lever 158 is retarded by means of a piston 174, operating in an air-tight cylinder 175, the plunger connected to the segment 157 by a connectin -rod 176, the plunger having an outwardly-opening valve 177 to allow the escape of air from the cylinder while the piston is moving inwardly, but preventing its 7 return as the piston is moved in the opposite.

direction. During the time occupied by this retrograde movement the line will be held exclusively by the operator at the calling-station and the station called. Inits normal position the free end of the lever 158 rests against the broa'dened end 178 of a bar 179 and drives it forward a short distance. The bar 17 9 is movably supported in a bracket 180, secured to the casing 28, as shown in Fig. 3,which represents this part of the apparatus in detail. The bar 179 is I held normally upward by spring 181, whose tension is regulated by winding-shaft 182, its upward movement being limited by the shoulder 183. When driven downward, the bar 179 strikes one end of a contact-lever 184, which is pivoted at 185 in a suitable hanger centrally of the lever, as shown, this movement of the lever being opposed by a spring 186. The opposite end of the lever 184 rests normally just abovea shoulder 187 at the end of a bent lever 188, which'ispivoted to a standard 189 and provided withan armature 190, adapted I to be actuated by an electromagnet 191. The

armatureendcflthe lever 188 is held normally against a stop 192 by a retracting-spring 193, and when in that position it holds a contact-spring 194 out of contact with a contact-- post 195. When the lever 188 is actuated by the magnet 191, the spring 194 closes a con-J tact with post 195. The lower end of the le-' ver 188 is insulated from the spring 194 and also from the contact-lever 184, as indicated at 172. The bar 179 is likewise ofinsulating nnate-rial. 1f while the lever 158 is removed j from engagement with the bar 179 the magnet'191 be energized, the lever 184, acting under the force of the spring 186, will drop below the shoulder 187 of the lever 188, and thus prevent the return of the latter to its normal position until by the return of the lever 158 the bar 179 is again pressed forward until it drives the lever 184 above the shoulder 187 as at first. The outer end of the lever 184 is held normally in contact with a spring-contact 225 and holds the latter out of contact with a contact-post 227, as represented in Fig. 19. Two weights 196 197 are mounted on a bar 198, which is centrally mounted movably to a standard 199. and yieldably held by a spring 200 in posit-ion to cause one of the weights to rest against the support 201. One end of a connecting-rod 202 is pivoted to the bar 74 and extends overthe weight-connect ing bar 198. with its other end resting in a slot in the rest 201. To the rod 202is adjustably attached a disk 203, which engages a post 204, rising from the bar 198. so that when bar 74 is actuated the disk 203 will strike the post 204 and cause the bar 198, with its connected weights, to rotate about its central support 199; but these parts will quickly return to their normal position under the influence of the spring 200. A contact-segment20'5 is mounted loosely on the pivot-shaft 199 of the weight-lever 198, being supported by a collar 206, as shown in the diagrammatic Fig. 19. Against this segment rests a contact-brush 207 adjacent to a block 208, of insulating ma terial, which forms a portion of the circumference of the segment 205. Two posts 209 and 210, rising from the segment 205, loosely engage opposite sides of the bar 198, whereby the segment is caused to partake of the motion of the weight-bar, and when the bar strikes the post 209 it turns the segment until the brush 207 rests on the insulating-block 208; but when the lever returns to its normal position it strikes the post 210 and rotates the segment until the brush is again in contact with the conducting portion of the segment in a manner similar to'that of segment 164, as before described. The brush 207 is connected by conductor-Wires, respectively, with the magnets 77 7 8, as hereinafter more particularly shown, and while the brush is in contact with the conducting-segment 205 the circuit from either of these magnets is completed by wires leading to a local battery, as hereinafter described, but when by the oscillation of the lever 198 the contact between brush 207 and the segment 205 is interrupted the magnet 77 78 will be deenergized until the contact is restored. Meantime the levers 79 or 80, as the case may be, will return to their normal position, driving the springs 211 or 212 from their corresponding contact-posts 213 or 214. The magnet 77 will now rest until a circuit is again opened through contact mechanism connected with the generator by the process operating in connection with the selecting-wheel 51. The object of this feature is to insure the full action of the magnets in event of the initial impulse given by the operator at the transmitting-station being too short for that purpose. .A second set of weights 215 216 is mounted upon a bar or lever 217, pivoted upon a standard 218, similar to the weights 196 197, and are held at rest against a post 219 by a spring 220. While in that position the lever 217 holds a contact-spring 221 out of contact with a contact-post 222, as represented in the diagrammatic Fig. 19. The lever 217 is actuated by the engagement of an extension 223 from the lever 80 against a corresponding extension 224 on the lever 217 when the lever 80 is actuated by the magnet 7 8. By this means the lever 217, with the weights 215 216, will be caused to oscillate in opposition to the spring 220, which will finally bring them back to their normal positions, and during this movement the contact between the spring 221 and post 222 will continue. When the brush-contact 61 is in contact with the section 256 and brush 62 is in contact with the section 262, which will be effected in regular order for a call by the magnet 7 8, as hereinafter more fully described, the circuit will be open from the segment 39 and the brush 47, operating thereon, through a conductorwire to the post 222, with which, as above noted, spring-contact 221 is for a brief time now in contact. During the interval of this contact the circuit is continued by suitable conductor-wire to spring-contact 226. The lever 158 will now have been actuated by the magnets'7 7 78, so that the engagement of the bar 179 with the lever 184is interrupted. The current will pass from the spring 225 to the lever 184, from which it will be carried by a suitable conductor-wire to the magnet 191 and thence by suitable conductor-wires to the local battery, (indicated at 226 in Fig. 19 and likewise in Fig. 1.) The magnet 191 will be energized and will actuate the lever 188, so that the lever 184 will drop below the shoulder 187, thus locking the lever 188, as before described. The contact between the spring 225 and the lever 184 will now be broken,

and the spring 225 will strike the contactpost 227, which" is mounted just below the lever 184. The current will thus be diverted from the magnet 191 and will be conducted from post 227 by suitable conductor-wires to the actuating-magnets of an ordinary callbell, (indicated at 228,) mounted at any convenient place where its ringing-will attract attention and from the call-bell magnets by suitable wires to the battery 226. This will cause the call bell to ring until the circuit is broken by the return of the lever 217 to its normal position, thereby causing an interruption of the contact of spring 221 with the post 222, as described. A contact-spring 229 is held by the bar 74 normally in contact with a contact post 230, which contact is broken While the bar 74 is actuated by either of the magnets 77 or 78. The returning current from the magnet 111 passes by suitable conductor-wires to the contact-spring 229 and passes from thence to the post 230 and from that point by suitable conductor-wires to the local battery 226 to cause the energizing of the magnet 111. This break at the spring 229 during the action of the magnets 77 or 78 pre- I vents the possibility of the action of the magnet 111 while the magnets 77 or 78 are energized. A portion of the lever 64 is of contact material, which is insulated from the free end by a splice 231 of insulating material.

When the selecting-wheel 51 is actuated so that the pin 63 does not engage the portion 64, the lever is driven forward by the spring 67, as before described, and its contact portion strikes against a contact-spring 232. A conductorwire from the lever 65 enters the magnet 111, and another conductor-wire extends from the spring 232 to a spring 162, which,- as before stated, is held normally against a contact-post 163 by the lever 158, the post 163 being connected by suitable conductorwires to the positive pole of the battery 226, and by this means the magnet 111 will be energized by the return of the lever 158 to its normal position atany time when the Wheel 51 is not in its normal position, and the action of the magnet 111 will be interrupted by the return of the wheel 51 to its normal position, as described. This insures the return of all parts of the instrument to their normal positions when not in use. The energizing of the magnet 191 results, as has been noted, in closing a contact between spring 194 and the contact-post 195,these latter parts,through the means of proper conductor-wires, serving to close the main line, so that thereceivingscribed as follows: Within the casing 26 is located a bracket 238, upon which is pivotally supported an arm 240 in a bracket 241, the arm extending in front of and slightly below the armature 242 of the ringer-magnets, and a post 243, rising from the arm 240, is

caused to press slightly against one end of the armature by a contact-spring 244, which is thus held in constant contact with the arm 240. The spring 244 is attached to a block 245, of insulating material, secured to the rear of the standard 241, or mounted on the bracket 238 or other support, as may be preferred. A second contact-spring 246 is also attached to the block 245 and rests normally against an adjustable rest 247, fixed to the bracket 288, the

spring 246 being adjusted to lie as closely as possible to the arm 240 without making contact with it when the latter is not actuated. A slight action of the armature 242, however, will drive the arm outward by means of the pin 243 and cause a contact with the spring 246, and the momentum of a weight 248 car' ried by the outer end of the bar 240 is intended to prolong this contact to a certain extent. The necessary wiring between the parts is represented in the diagrammatic view Fig. 19, and the different movements will be accomplished through these connections and will appear in the following description .of

the operations of the device. Y

When any operator on the line desires to call up another station, he rotates the crank of the generator of his own telephone a short distance in the usual manner, with the usual result of energizing the ringer-magnet in all the telephones on the line. The impulse thus generated at the transmitting-telephone produces in each of the telephones the contact above described between the arm 240 and the spring-contact 246, thus causing the ringermagnets to become practically relay-magnets to form a circuit for the local battery, (indicated at 226.) By the contact thus produced between bar 240 and spring 246 a circuit is opened from battery 226'by suitable connecting-wires to spring 244, bar 240, spring 246, magnets 77, contact-spring 207, and contactsegment 205, and thence to the battery 226.

. The magnet 7 7 is by this means energized for a short time, drawing the armature 83 toward itself, and with it the lever 7 9. This lever 79. is held normally against a rest 173 through the action \of the retractingspring 85, as shown in Fig. 2. W'hen in its normal position, the lever 79 holds a contact-spring 211 out of contact with contact-post 213; but as i soon as the lever is drawn slightly toward the magnet 77 a contact is closed between the spring 211 and the post 213 and connection made by suitable wiring directly from the battery 226 through the contact 211, post213, and magnet 7 7 independently of the relay mechanism in the telephone. The magnet 7 7 will thus be energized continuously and draw the ai-matu re 83 and the lever 7 9 to itself until the current is broken by the action of the arm 198, as before described.

The arrangement of the correlated selective contact-plates on the selecting-wheel 51 varies in the different telephones, as before mentioned, and each series is adapted to correspond to a special order of impulses transmit-- ted to the receiving-telephone, whereby a call may be made at that particular telephone which will not be transmitted to telephones having a different arrangement of the plates. Hence it is evident that a special order of impulses will be required for each telephone on the line and constituting a code.

The two series of contact-plates are divided theoretically into sections measured angularly by the teeth of the ratchet-segment 52, the number of sections in each series being the same. In actual construction two or more 6 I j, s I

sectlons may be included in a single plate, as in Fig. For the purpose of illustration the sections shown in these drawings are designated consecutively by the characters 251 to movement of the wheel 51 in the direction of the arrow each brush will come in contact a with the initial section of its respective series of plates. The rotation of the selectingwheel 51 until the contact-springs 61 62 are brought in contact with the final sections of their respective series of section (256 and 262 in the case illustrated in the drawings) results, as will be shown hereinafter, in the production of a call from the bell 228, and to secure a continuously-forward movement of said wheel 51 in a given case by means of a special order of impulses that would at the same time cause the selecting-wheels in every other instrument to remain at their normal positions is the principal object of this inof the generator-crank. The impulses thus created should be repeated through a series with a uniform frequency of about two seconds, and the series, of which there will be two or more, should be separated by an interval of ten or fifteen seconds. The number of rings or impulses in each series and the number of series will vary with each special signal in the code. At the first movement of the selecting-wheel 51, caused by the action of the magnet 77, as described, the contactspring 61 will pass to the initial section 251 of the first series and the brush-contact 62 will pass to the initial section 257 of the second series. At the same time the spring-contact 130 will pass to the contact-post 134: and be disconnected from post 131. By reference to the diagram Fig. 19 it will be noted that a circuit is now opened from one pole of the battery 226 by a suitable wiring to the contactspring 61, thence to the initial section 251 of the first series, thence by conducting-wire to segment 38, spring-contact 16, and thence to post 131. Here the circuit is interrupted while the spring 130 is out of contact with the post 131. Should the selecting-wheel 51 now be allowed to remain stationary until the lever 123 returns to its normal position, carrying the spring-contact 130 into engagement with the post 131, the circuit would be continued through the spring 130 to the spring-contact 62, which is in contact with the first section 257 of the second series on the selecting-wheel. From this section the circuit would pass by suitable conductor-wires to segments 41, thence by springcontact 19 to the magnet 111. From this magnet it would continue through suitable connections to the battery 226 again. The magnet 111 would thus be energized, and by actuating armature-lever 108 it would cause the selecting-wheel 51 to return to its normal position; but ifthe magnet 77 be immediately energized a second time before the lever 123 has returned to its normal position the lever will be again driven forward as far as at first, and the selecting-wheel 51 will again be advanced the distance of one of the sections. The position of the spring-contact 61 will now be on the second section 252 of the first series, while the spring-contact 62 will now be on the section 258 of the second series. The circuit is still open as before to post 131, which for a brief time will still be out of contact with the spring 130. Section 253, which now lies just in advance of spring 61, is electrically connected with segment 37 and thence through spring-contact 15 with post 13 1, with which spring 130 is for the present in contact. Hence if the wheel 51 should be quickly advanced for the third time, so that spring 61 should reach section 253 while spring 130 is still in contact with post 131, the result would be the passing of the current from spring 61 by section 253, segment 37 and spring 45, thence to post134, and by spring 130 to spring 62 and section 259, on which spring 62 would now be resting. From this point the current would pass by segment 11 and spring 4:9 to magnet 111 and thence to battery 226, energizing magnet 111 and restoring the selecting-wheel 51 to its normal position; but should the wheel 51 remain a short time at rest or until the springcontact 130 returns to post 131, caused by the delay of the operator for an interval in imparting the impulses to the line, as above described, the circuit will be open to springcontact 62 and thence by section 258 through suitable conductor-wires to segment 10 and spring-contact 18 and thence by suitable conductor-Wires to magnet 78, whence it can proceed, as described, to battery 226. The magnet 78 will then be energized ,and armature-lever 80 be actuated, with the ultimate result of moving the wheel 51 forward in the same manner as would result from the action of magnet 7 7. but without actuating the lever 123. This will allow the spring 130 to remain in contact with post 131 during and after this movement of the wheel 51 without actuating magnet 111. The spring-contact 61 will be carried by this movement of the wheel 51 to the section 253 of the first series, and the spring-contact 62 will be carried tothe section 259 of the second series. It will thus appear that the sections 252 and 258 have a somewhat special character, inasmuch as it is necessary in order to insure the continuous forward movement of the selecting: wheel 51 that the operator at the transmitting-station should delay sending impulses when thecontact-springs 61 62 have reached those sections until the automatic movement-of the wheel 51 has been effected by the magnet 78, as described. This result will follow if the operator follows the code for the receiving instrument which he wishes to call. To indicate this special character, these sections will be designated holding-sections. They constitute an essential feature of this invention, inasmuch as by them it is obvious that variety can be introduced into the series of impulses used in calling the different telephones on the line. This is done by varying the number and position of the holding-sections in each of the telephones on the line. The number and order of delays or interruptions in the transmission of impulses by the sender must necessarily correspond to the number and order of the holding-sections of the telephone which it is desired to call.

In the arrangement of the sections shown in the drawings there are but two holding-sections in each series-viz, 252 and 255 in the first series and the corresponding ones (that is, those upon Which contact-spring 62 will rest when the opposite spring 61 is resting on these) 258 and 261 in the second series. As the order of the sections is the samein both series, only one-the first, for instance-need be regarded in noting their order. Inthe case illustrated in the drawings the first holding- Section 252 is preceded by one non-holding section 251. Between the first and second or last holding-section 255 there are two nonholding sections 253 and 254. Whence, as it will require one action of magnet 77 to bring the contact-spring 61 onto the initial section of the series, it will be seen that in order to rotate Wheel 51 continuously in this case there 'must be received from the transmitting instrument two quickly -successive impulses, which would bring contact-spring 61 to the first holding-section. Then a delay must ocour in the impulses until the magnet :78 has acted, after which two more quick impulses will bring the spring to the second and last holding-section. No further impulses will be required, as the action of the magnet 7 8 will now bring the spring to the final section of the series 256. 7

- were more non-holding sections introduced beforethe first holding-section or between the first and second holding-sections or were more holding-sections used the number and order of impulses required would vary accordingly. For instance, were there three non-holding sections before the first holding-section then four quick impulses would be necessary before the first delay, and if there were five nonholding sections between the first and second holding-sections there would be required five quick impulses between the first and second delay or the cessation of the impulses in this case. 7 J V p More holding sections with intervening nonholding sections can be used, if desired, to further increase the variations of impulses;

buttwo will be sufiicient for ordinary pur poses.

It has been shown that a delay in the transmission of impulses at atime when the springs 61 62 of any receiving-telephone are not on the holding-sections or the failure to make sufficient delay when such is the case will invariably result in sending, the selecting-wheel 51 of that telephone back to its normal position, and thus prevent'acall from being given at that point. r We have now to consider the the selecting-wheel 51 of any telephone is rotated until the spring 61 has reached the final section of the series, which final section preferably succeeds a holding-section. In the case illustrated in the drawings sections 256 and 262 are the final sections of the first and 1 second series, respectively, and, are immediatelypreceded by the holding-sections 255 and 261. The contact-springs61 62 having reached these final sections, the circuit will be open, through the spring-contact 61, section 256,

movement of the wheel 51 will in the required order of "movements: have been produced .by

result when the magnets 7 8. From spring-contact 130 the pleted between post 222 and the springcon tact 221, as before described, the circuit will continue by suitable conductor-wires to the contact-spring 225, whence when contacts 225 and 227 are connected it will be open to the magnets of the call-bell 228 and finally to battery 226, with the result of ringing a call onthe bell 228, as before described. By the turning of the generator-wheel 234 (see Fig. 16) by the operator at the transmittingstation a bar 235, mounted pivotally to a standard 236 and resting in an inclined position upon the teeth of the wheel 234, is thrown outward by the contact of the teeth when the wheel is rapidly rotated andcaused tostrike a contact-spring 237. The spring is mounted upon a standard 236, but insulated therefrom and rests normally against a stop 348, attached adj ustably to the side of the generator-box, by which it is held adjacent to but normally out of contact with the bar 235. When this contact is made by the operation of rotating the generator-crank, a circuit is closed from the battery 226 by suitable conductor-wires to the springcontact 237, andthence through bar 235 by suitable conductor wires tomagnet '191, and thence returns by suitable conductorwires to the battery 226 again. This action energizes the magnet 191 at the transmittingstation and secures the closing of the contact at the spring 194 at that station, and this secures that instrument from being locked out of the main circuit in the same manner that the receiving instrument is secured, as described. The turning of the crank obviously tends to secure a contact between bar 235 and contact-spring 237, and' it is equally obvious that this will secure the action of the magnet 191. Again, it is apparent that this will maintain the connection'of the telephone with the main line by means of spring 194 and post 195. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is i Y 1. In an apparatus of I the character described, a series of telephones connected on a 1 single circuit or line, electricallycontrolled means associated with said telephones whereby a plurality of quickly-successive impulses are caused to pass over the line, means operated by said impulses for looking out all the the transmitting and receiving stations, and means for retarding the action of said lockingout means to' permit the action of the cuttingin means for the receivinginstrunlent.

j I 2 In an apparatus of *the ;feharacter de 1 scribed, a series'offtelephones connected one;

1 single circuit or "line, electrically -'controlled' instruments in the series except the ones at I means associated with said telephones whereby a plurality of quickly-successive impulses are caused to pass over the line, means oper ated by said impulses for locking out all the instruments in the series except the ones at the transmitting and receiving stations, and means for retarding the action of said lockingout means to permit the action of the cuttingin means for the receiving instrument.

3. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, a series of telephones connected on a single circuit or line, electrically-controllede means associated with said telephones whereby a plurality of quickly-successive impulses are. caused to pass over the line, a segment of insulating material mounted for oscillation and carrying spaced contact-plates, a contact member associated with said electrically-controlled means for intermittent engagement with said contact-plates, and means for retarding the oscillatory action of said segment, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a series of telephones connected on a single circuit or line, a series of disks of insulating material mounted for rotation and associated with said telephone, a series of oppositely-disposed contact-plates divided into sections and adapted to be brought intermittently into electrical contact with electrical conductor means, means associated with the call mechanism of said telephones whereby a series of impulses may be transmitted through said contact-sections, an arm carried by said segment and provided withweights upon its ends, whereby the movements of said segments are retarded, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a series of telephones connected on a single circuit or line, a series of disks of insulating material mounted for rotation and associated with said telephones, a series of oppositely-disposed contact-plates divided into sections and adapted to be brought intermittently into electrical contact with electrical conductor means, means associated with the call mechanism of said telephones whereby a series of impulses may be transmitted through said contact-sections, means operative by said impulses for locking out all the telephones of the series except the receiving and transmitting ones, and means associated with said eontact-sections whereby said lock-out means will be retarded to permit the action of connecting means for the said receiving and transmitting instruments.

6. In an apparatus of the character de- I scribed, a series of telephones connected on a single circuit or line, means operative by the call mechanism of the telephones whereby a plurality of quickly-successive impulses are caused to pass over the line, an electromagnet associated with said impulse-producing means, an armature operative by said electromagnet and provided with a lateral arm, an

arm mounted for oscillation and carrying weights upon its ends, means for holding said arm yieldingly in one position and out of electrical connection with said magnet, said weighted arm having a lateral projection adapted to be engaged by said armature-arm to actuate said weighted arm and connect it electrically with'said magnet, substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a series of telephones connected on a single circuit or line, a series of disks of insulating material mounted for oscillation and associated with said telephones, a series of contact-platesdisposed in predetermined orderor groups upon said disks, electrically-operated means for causing a selected one of said disks to move forward continuously, and means operating simultaneously by said operating means for causing all the other'disks to remain stationary, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a series of telephones connected on a single circuit or line, a series of disks of insulating material mounted for rotation and associated with said telephones, and carrying contact-plates disposed in predetermined order or groups, means for yieldingly holding said disks from movement in one direction, a ratchet-segment carried by each of said disks,

. a pawl in yieldable engagement with said segment, means operative by the call mechanism of said telephone for actuating said pawls.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a series of telephones connected on a single circuit or line, a series of disks of insulatingmaterial and mounted for oscillation and associated with said telephones, a series of opposing contact-plates divided into sections and spaced upon said disks, means operated by the call mechanism of said telephones for oscillating said disks, a ratchet wheel mounted for rotation and carrying a gear, an

arm carrying a gear-segment engaging said gear, a cylinder having a plunger connected to said gear-segment, an outwardly-opening valve in said plunger, means associated with the call mechanism of said telephones whereby a series of electrical impulses may be transmitted through said contact-sections and simultaneously actuate said ratchet-wheel and gearing and depress said-plunger which in its slow return movement will cause the line to be held exclusively by the transmitting and receiving stations. I

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a series of telephones connected on a single circuit or line,.a series of disks of insulating material mounted for oscillation and provided with opposing contact-plates divided into sections and adapted to be brought inters mittently into electrical contact with the above circuit, a system of electromagnets in electric circuit with said above circuit and .associated with the call mechanismof the telephones,

arms ,mounted for vibrations and carrying weights upon their free endspmeans asso' ciated with the above mechanism whereby said arms are operated.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, a series of telephones connected on a single circuit or line, a series of disks of insulating material mounted for rotation and associated with said telephones, a series of contact-plates carried by said disks and divided into oppositely-disposed sections, means operative by the call mechanism of the telephones for operating said disks and intermittently opening and closing electrical circuits through said contact-sections, a bar mounted for oscillation and having weights upon its free ends, a segment of insulating material mounted to oscillate with said arm and carrying'a contact-sectioma yieldable contact in electrical connection with one of 7 said series of disk-contacts, and engaging said cuits through said contactsections, a plurality I tarded.

of electromagnets in electrical association with said call mechanism, a ratchet-wheel mounted for rotation and carrying a gearwheel, an arm mounted for oscillation and carrying a gear-segment on one end engaging said gear, and with the other end adapted to release an armature-trip associatedv with one of said electromagnets, a cylinder having a plunger connected to said gear-segment and having an outwardlyopeningvalve, whereby the return movement of the plunger is re- 13. In an apparatus of the. character described, a series of telephones connected on a single circuit or line, a series of disks of insulating material mounted for rotation and associated with said telephones, a series of contact-plates carried by said disks and divided into oppositely-disposed sections, stops disposed to limit the movement of said disks in one direction, springs disposed to hold said disks yieldably against -movement in the opposite direction, means operative by the call mechanism of the telephones for operating said disks and intermittently opening and closing electrical'c ircuits through said contactsections. N V

In testimony -whereofI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

v PLINY H. FISK. Witnesses: v

' H. S. ROBINSON,

' l). A. MEAGHAM. 

